The Civilian Power or Citizens' Force (, abbr. ''GS'') was a green liberal political party in the

Russian Federation Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. The organization was called the Network Party for Support of the Small and Middle Business in 2002, then renamed Free Russia in 2004, and in February 2007 changed to Civilian Power. Members of the political council include: * Mikhail Barshchevsky * Valdis Pelsh * Tatyana Ustinova *

Maxim Kononenko Maksim Vitalievich Kononenko (; 13 March 1971 – 14 May 2024) was a Russian journalist, writer and television show host. Kononenko was also a political activist and a member of the council of the party Civilian Power. Biography Kononenko w ...

* Eduard Uspensky

The Party's names

* Russian Network Party for Support of the Small and Medium Business (RSP, 2002–2004) * Free Russia Party (PSR, 2004—2007) * Civilian Power (GS, 2007—2008) * All-Russian Public Organization "Civilian Forces" (OOO GS, 2008—2012) * Civilian Power (GS, 2012—2025)

History

The "Free Russia" party was created in 2004, based on small and medium-sized Russian businesses. On October 8, 2006, the party overtook the 7% barrier on the legislative elections in Novgorod District. In November 2006, the 6th party conference was held. On February 27, 2007, Mikhail Barshchevsky, the chairman and plenipotentiary of the High Council of the Russian government, held a press conference. This was in aid of the party principles of Civilian Power. In the middle of April 2007, an organizational conference was held. The chairman of the High Council is plenipotentiary of the Government of Russia in Constitutional, Supreme and Highest Arbitral Courts Mikhail Barshchevsky (a member since December 2006). The chairman of the Federal Political Council − The founder of the party, businessman Alexander Ryavkin from 2014 - 2015 year was the vice governor of

Oryol Oblast Oryol Oblast (), also known as Orlovshchina (), is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Oryol. Population: Geography It is loc ...

. The party won 1.05% of votes in the 2007 elections, not breaking the 7% barrier, and thus no seats in

duma A duma () is a Russian assembly with advisory or legislative functions. The term ''boyar duma'' is used to refer to advisory councils in Russia from the 10th to 17th centuries. Starting in the 18th century, city dumas were formed across Russia ...

. Civilian Power supported

Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (born 14 September 1965) is a Russian politician and lawyer who has served as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia since 2020. Medvedev was also President of Russia between 2008 and 2012 and Prime Mini ...

as their candidate in the

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The p ...

in 2008. It merged with

Union of Right Forces The Union of Right Forces (URF). was a Russian liberal-conservative political public organization and former party, initially founded as an electoral bloc in 1999 and associated with free market reforms, privatization, and the legacy of the "yo ...

and the Democratic Party of Russia to form the Right Cause on 16 November 2008. Civilian Power was again registered as a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

on 7 June 2012. The party advocates the legalization of

prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

in Russia. In the elections of 2014, the party won one seat in the regional parliament of

Nenets Autonomous Okrug The Nenets Autonomous Okrug (; ) also known as Nenetsia ( ) is a federal subject of Russia and an autonomous okrug of Arkhangelsk Oblast. Its administrative center is the town of Naryan-Mar. It has an area of and a population of 42,090 ...

. At the end of November 2024, the Ministry of Justice of Russia appealed to the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

, demanding the liquidation of the Civilian Power political party. The Ministry of Justice argued that the party had not nominated candidates for federal elections for a long time and had hardly participated in local elections. On 15 January 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the appeal, dissolving the party.

Electoral results

In 2017, the Party announced that the only candidate whom the party will support is current president Vladimir Putin. for the 2018 Russian presidential election.

Presidential elections

Legislative elections

References

External links

Civilian Power, official site
(in Russian) {{Defunct Russian political parties 2003 establishments in Russia 2008 disestablishments in Russia 2012 establishments in Russia 2025 disestablishments in Russia Green political parties in Russia Liberal parties in Russia Green liberalism Political parties disestablished in 2008 Political parties disestablished in 2025 Political parties established in 2003 Political parties established in 2012 Defunct political parties in Russia